The Indonesian government is preparing to implement several new mobile communication regulations, which could significantly impact expats in Bali. While the transition to eSIM is generally seen as a positive development, another rule—a restriction on the number of SIM cards per user—may complicate things for foreigners.
The Ministry of Communications and Digital Technology is pushing mobile operators to replace physical SIM cards with eSIMs. The law is expected to be passed soon. Some carriers, like Telkomsel and Indosat, already offer eSIM services, but until now, there were no official regulations. The new law will introduce standardized rules for eSIM activation and use.
Indonesia currently has 314 million registered SIM cards, while the actual number of users is around 280 million. Many of these extra SIMs belong to expats in Bali, who use them to repeatedly unlock the IMEI of untaxed foreign smartphones.
• Imported phones that have not been declared at customs or had duties paid are blocked after 90 days of use with an Indonesian mobile provider.
• The workaround? Buying a new cheap SIM card, which resets the IMEI registration for another three months. Over time, many long-term expats in Bali have accumulated multiple unused SIM cards.
• The new regulations will close this loophole, making it harder to bypass IMEI restrictions.
Minister Meutya Hafid stated:
“The new regulations will be introduced within the next two weeks. They will standardize the eSIM registration process, enhance personal data security, and prevent fraud.”
Until Bali SIM card vendors find a new way to register numbers under different names for the same device, the only official solution is to declare your phone at customs upon arrival.
Current IMEI Registration Costs
• iPhone 13 Pro 128GB – Free if registered at the airport on the day of arrival.
• iPhone 14 Pro 256GB – $45 registration fee.
For those with older devices, there’s a chance IMEI registration will be free at the airport.
Sources: Rakyat Sulsel, BloombergTechnoz
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